House of Commons Hansard #16 of the 43rd Parliament, 2nd session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was medical.
Opposition Motion—Special Committee on Anti-CorruptionBusiness of SupplyGovernment Orders
An hon. member
Mr. Speaker, members who are participating virtually are expecting the bells to ring for 15 minutes. Some have left their screens.
Opposition Motion—Special Committee on Anti-CorruptionBusiness of SupplyGovernment Orders
The Speaker Anthony Rota
We are going to proceed with the vote. The display of the time was removed very quickly. The rules that are in place are that once the whips sit down at their place, then we go on with the vote.
Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
The Speaker Anthony Rota
I declare the amendment defeated.
The next question is on the main motion.
Pursuant to order made on Wednesday, September 23, we will not call for the yeas and nays. As a result, if a member of a recognized party present in the House wants to request a recorded vote or request that the amendment be passed on division, I invite them to rise and so indicate to the Chair.
And one or more members having risen:
Proceed with the vote.
Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Act to Amend the Criminal Code Regarding Medical Assistance in DyingRoutine Proceedings
LaSalle—Émard—Verdun Québec
Liberal
David Lametti LiberalMinister of Justice
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the charter statement on Bill C-7, an act to amend the Criminal Code regarding medical assistance in dying, and a legislative summary of Bill C-7, an act to amend the Criminal Code regarding medical assistance in dying.
Brad Vis Conservative Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, BC
Mr. Speaker, petitioners highlight this summer's sham election in Belarus that reinstated President Lukashenko but was thoroughly denounced by international monitors. The opposition leader was forced into exile. Tens of thousands of protesting Belarusians face violence, detention and torture. Belarus is fighting for its democratic freedom. Petitioners, including many Belarusian expats, call for Lukashenko's resignation, a free and open second election, an end to political persecution and the release of all political prisoners.
Marie-Hélène Gaudreau Bloc Laurentides—Labelle, QC
Mr. Speaker, today I am presenting a timely petition.
Whereas:
Access to high-speed internet is not equitable across the country;
Service is inadequate or simply non-existent;
The pandemic has aggravated problems and regional inequities with respect to telework, telemedicine and distance education;
Inadequate service is having a serious impact on the economic recovery;
This tool is essential for the economic development of small, medium and large businesses, municipalities and organizations;
Many regions are ready to roll out the network but cannot because of barriers involving applications for permits to access support structures (poles) belonging to businesses that own these sites; and
In 2016, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) declared high-speed internet an essential service.
We, the undersigned, citizens of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to invest heavily and quickly, starting in fall 2020, to expand rural broadband connectivity by meeting the 50 Mbps download and 10 Mbps upload targets set by the CRTC in 2016—
Jenica Atwin Green Fredericton, NB
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present a petition on an important topic. People living at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown and its surrounding communities were victims of the application of pesticides in the area. An independent public inquiry would help to uncover the answers these people have been seeking in relation to the pesticides used on military and civilians in the Oromocto area. The petitioners call upon Parliament to convene a fully independent public inquiry that will make recommendations in relation to the application of pesticides at CFB Gagetown and its surrounding communities from the 1950s to the present day.
Paul Manly Green Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC
Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to present Petition e-2794. The petitioners see that we are in a climate emergency and want the government to treat it like the emergency that it is. They call upon the government to update Canada's climate action targets to reflect science and the IPCC 2018 report. They want the government to begin to implement carbon price increases at $25 per tonne, per year, past 2022. They want the government to establish a panel of experts to review the yearly carbon price increments and ensure that they meet Canada's climate action targets, and they want the government to ensure that Canadians become fully aware of the carbon price rebates through regularly issued cheques or direct bank deposits.
Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to take the floor virtually to present petition no. 10873749, as certified through our virtual House procedures.
The petitioners call for renewed attention on the threats to Canada's water and waterways, pointing out that over the years corporate neglect and pollution have affected significantly our waterways and watersheds, that we need to update the laws we have in the country to protect them and recognize that they are part of integral ecosystems. Protecting our waterways and watersheds also protects our air quality, water quality, forests and other ecosystems.
The petitioners call on the Government of Canada to put renewed effort into protecting our waters within Canada.
Questions on the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings
October 21st, 2020 / 4:35 p.m.
Winnipeg North Manitoba
Liberal
Kevin Lamoureux LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, I ask that all questions be allowed to stand.
The House resumed from October 19 consideration of the motion that Bill C-7, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying), be read the second time and referred to a committee.
The Speaker Anthony Rota
Before continuing, I wish to inform the House that because of the deferred recorded divisions, Government Orders will be extended by 81 minutes.
Adam van Koeverden LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth and to the Minister of Canadian Heritage (Sport)
Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to virtually join the debate in the House of Commons and participate in the second reading debate on Bill C-7, an act to amend the Criminal Code, medical assistance in dying.
I will take a moment to speak to the progress that our government has made with respect to the rights of persons with disabilities in Canada.
Last year, we enacted the Accessible Canada Act, which aims to create a barrier-free Canada through the proactive identification, removal and prevention of barriers to accessibility wherever Canadians interact with areas under federal jurisdiction.
The act is one of the most significant advancements in disability rights since the charter in 1982 and it is designed to inspire a cultural transformation toward disability inclusion and accessibility in Canada. The act created Accessibility Standards Canada, an organization that will create and revise accessibility standards and support and promote innovative accessibility research. The CEO and board of directors were appointed and the operations began last summer.
That act also established National AccessAbility Week, a week dedicated to accessibility in late May and early June each year. National AccessAbility Week is an opportunity to promote inclusion and accessibility in communities and workplaces and to celebrate the contributions of Canadians with disabilities. It is also a time to recognize the efforts of individuals, communities and workplaces that are actively removing barriers to give Canadians of all abilities a better chance to succeed.
Our government is taking real action to address the rights of persons with a disability. The careful writing of Bill C-7 is a testament to that. Representatives of disability organizations and leading disability scholars participated in consultations across the country and their input informed the reforms proposed in this bill.
We recognize that disability inclusion requires more than legislation and that is why we are continuing to work with the disability community and stakeholders to address stigma and bias. It is important to bring about cultural change to ensure that the important contributions made to Canada by persons with a disability are recognized and valued on the same basis as other Canadians.
Going forward, we will continue to focus on improving the social and economic inclusion of persons with a disability. This means moving forward with our commitment to build on the progress we have made over the past months and years with the development of a disability inclusion plan. This disability inclusion plan would include important initiatives like a new Canadian disability benefit modelled after the GIS for seniors, a robust employment strategy for Canadians with disabilities and a better process to determine eligibility for government programs and benefits. We all benefit when everyone can participate equally in our economy and society.
We will continue to work hard to ensure that every person in Canada is treated with the dignity and respect they deserve, especially when it comes to the deep and personal issue; that is ending one's life. It is imperative that the voices of all Canadians, including persons with a disability, continue to be heard on the issue of medical assistance in dying.
Matthew Green NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
Madam Speaker, I want to acknowledge the words of the hon. member. I have known him to be a compassionate man.
He talked about people with disabilities living with dignity, yet, as it relates to the COVID situation, with so many people living with disabilities being left out of recovery packages and support, we are hearing that they are considering accessing MAID simply because they do not have the money to survive.
What does the member have to say about programs that have excluded people living with disabilities to the point where they are actually considering accessing this end-of-life scenario?
Adam van Koeverden Liberal Milton, ON
Madam Speaker, I profoundly appreciate the work that my colleague across the floor has done for his community in Hamilton prior to his entering federal politics. I am well aware of his many contributions in areas of social justice and I am proud to call him a colleague. He is somebody who stands up for people and ensures their voices are amplified.
In areas of mental health concerns that our government has, we have taken many precautions to ensure that people are being heard and that the correct precautions are being made in order to ensure that mental health and people with disabilities do not fall victim to many of the inadequacies that are baked into the system. This is an effort to change the ways it has been dealt with in the past.
I fully recognize, from consultations with many constituents in my riding who live with disabilities, that the benefit we have promised is too little and too late and that we must continue to do more for Canadians with disabilities, in particular, with regard to mental health.
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Madam Speaker, with this legislation, it is clear that the Liberals have snuck in a number of different provisions that have nothing to do with the Truchon decision. One of them is bringing in the possibility of same-day death.
The elimination of a 10-day reflection period means that somebody could request and receive euthanasia or medical assistance in dying on the same day, without any further requirements or checking back the following day to see if this was a consistently expressed desire or simply the response to an immediate low.
Does the member believe same-day death is reasonable or does he think there should be a default to a reflection period? Right now, the reflection period can be waived in certain circumstances by the physicians. Does he think the default should be to have some degree of a reflection period so we do not have same-day death?
Adam van Koeverden Liberal Milton, ON
Madam Speaker, while I appreciate the many contributions and reflections upon this and many other issues from my colleague opposite, I, unlike him, rely on experts and expert opinions, research and evidence from people who work in these fields.
As a politician, I do not feel prepared or adequately informed to make these decisions in the House. They are made through evidence finding exercises in consultations with experts, physicians and researchers. Because we are an evidence-based government and one that bases all our decisions on that evidence-based approach, I am very confident we are making the most compassionate, best decision possible.
Brad Vis Conservative Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, BC
Madam Speaker, Inclusion BC is seeking additional safeguards for people with disabilities. Would the Liberal government consider providing each province and territory with additional health transfers to cover, under this legislation, supports for mental health and psychiatric care that are embedded into the legislation to give Canadians assurances, especially those with disabilities, that all options are on the table for them when they consider MAID?
Adam van Koeverden Liberal Milton, ON
Madam Speaker, I will take the question under advisement and ask the correct officials and the minister in charge if this is something that we might consider.
The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès) Alexandra Mendes
It is my duty pursuant to Standing Order 38 to inform the House that the questions to be raised tonight at the time of adjournment are as follows: the hon. member for Mégantic—L'Érable, COVID-19 Emergency Response; the hon. member for Calgary Nose Hill, Health; the hon. member for Courtenay—Alberni, COVID-19 Emergency Response.